Plate roll loading and positioning apparatus and method

Abstract

The invention relates an automated adjusting arm assembly for conveniently and quickly loading printing press cylinders into a printing press such that proper initial ink and impression settings result without operator adjustment. The assembly includes two stationary plates and movable plates connected to the stationary plates by a plurality of wheels. The movable plates in conjunction with a catch or a capture knob assembly thereon are adapted to lower a printing press roll onto an anilox and/or an impression roll in the printing press.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An adjustable arm assembly adapted for use in a printing press, the assembly comprising: 
       a first stationary plate;  
       a first movable plate movably connected to the first stationary plate, the first movable plate comprising:  
       one of a catch or a capture knob assembly adapted to engage a first end of a printing press cylinder roll; and  
       a speed control mechanism adapted to control the speed by which a printing press cylinder roll is lowered, wherein the speed control mechanism is connected to the first movable plate and is adapted to be connected to an inner surface of a printing press, and  
       a disengagement mechanism connected to the first stationary plate, the disengagement mechanism comprising:  
       a rotatable block;  
       a wheel mechanism which is adapted to rotate the rotatable block; and  
       a drive mechanism adapted to push the wheel mechanism so as to cause a rotation of the rotatable block.  
     
     
       2. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the speed control mechanism is at least one of an air cylinder and a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
       3. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the catch comprises a semicircular rib. 
     
     
       4. The assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the semicircular rib is adapted to support a boss projecting from a cylindrical printing press roll. 
     
     
       5. The assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the rib is connected to a plate, and wherein the catch further comprises a bore block adapted to engage an end of a shaft of a printing press roll. 
     
     
       6. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first movable plate is connected to the first stationary plate by a plurality of wheels. 
     
     
       7. The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a second stationary plate; and  
       a second movable plate movably connected to the second stationary plate by a plurality of wheels, the second movable plate comprising:  
       the other of the roll catch or the capture knob, wherein the other of the roll catch or the capture knob assembly is adapted to engage a second end of a printing press roll.  
     
     
       8. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein drive mechanism is at least one of an air cylinder and a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
       9. The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the speed control mechanism is at least one of a second air and a second hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
       10. The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a rod engaged with the first movable plate and adapted to be releasably engaged with a bore in the rotatable block.  
     
     
       11. The assembly according  claim 1 , wherein the disengagement mechanism is adapted to inhibit movement of the first movable plate with respect to the first stationary plate. 
     
     
       12. A printing press comprising: 
       a housing having an inner surface;  
       an adjustable arm assembly connected to the inner surface, the assembly comprising:  
       a first stationary plate;  
       a first movable plate movably connected to the first stationary plate, the first movable plate comprising:  
       at least one of a catch or a capture knob assembly adapted to engage a first end of a printing press cylinder roll;  
       a speed control mechanism adapted to control the speed by which the printing press cylinder roll is lowered, wherein the speed control mechanism is connected to the first movable plate and adapted to be connected to an inner surface of a printing press; and  
       a disengagement mechanism connected to the first stationary plate, the disengagement mechanism comprising:  
       a rotatable block;  
       a wheel mechanism which is adapted to rotate the rotatable block; and  
       a drive mechanism adapted to push the wheel mechanism so as to cause a rotation of the rotatable block; and  
       at least one roll adapted to be contacted by the printing press cylinder roll when the printing press cylinder roll is lowered by the adjustable arm assembly.  
     
     
       13. The printing press according to  claim 12 , wherein the disengagement mechanism is adapted to inhibit movement of the first movable plate with respect to the first stationary plate. 
     
     
       14. The printing press according to  claim 12 , wherein the first movable plate is connected to the first stationary plate by a plurality of wheels. 
     
     
       15. The printing press according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one roll is an anilox roll. 
     
     
       16. The printing press according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one roll is an impression roll. 
     
     
       17. The printing press according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one roll comprises an anilox roll and an impression roll. 
     
     
       18. The printing press according to  claim 12 , wherein the speed control mechanism is at least one of an air cylinder and a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
       19. The printing press according to  claim 12 , wherein the catch comprises a semicircular rib. 
     
     
       20. The printing press according to  claim 19 , wherein the semicircular rib is adapted to support a boss projecting from a cylindrical printing press roll. 
     
     
       21. The printing press according to  claim 19 , wherein the rib is connected to a plate, and wherein the catch further comprises a bore block adapted to engage an end of a shaft of a printing press roll. 
     
     
       22. The printing press according to  claim 12 , further comprising: 
       a second stationary plate; and  
       a second movable plate movably connected to the second stationary plate by a plurality of wheels, the second movable plate comprising:  
       the other of the catch or the capture knob assembly, wherein the other of the catch or the capture knob assembly is adapted to engage a second end of the printing press roll.  
     
     
       23. The printing press according to  claim 12 , wherein the assembly further comprises: 
       a rod engaged with the first movable plate and adapted to be releasably engaged with a bore in the rotatable block.  
     
     
       24. The printing press according to  claim 12 , wherein the drive mechanism is at least one of an air cylinder and a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
       25. The printing press according to  claim 24 , wherein the speed control mechanism is at least one of a second air and a second hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
       26. A method for loading a printing press cylinder roll in a printing press comprising the steps of: 
       positioning a right end of a printing press cylinder roll in a right adjustment arm assembly;  
       positioning a left end of the printing press cylinder roll in a left adjustment arm assembly;  
       actuating a plate roll capturing knob assembly to lock the printing press cylinder roll with respect to the adjustment arm assemblies;  
       lowering the printing press cylinder roll and the adjustment arm assemblies from an insertion position to a loaded position in which the printing press cylinder roll contacts at least one roll in the printing press;  
       engaging a disengagement mechanism when the printing press cylinder roll contacts the at least one roll in the printing press; and  
       fine-tuning the orientation of the printing press cylinder roll with respect to the at least one roll in the printing press,  
       wherein the disengagement mechanism comprises: 
       a threaded rod;  
       a rotatable block adapted to engage the threaded rod;  
       a wheel mechanism which is adapted to rotate the rotatable block; and  
       a drive mechanism adapted to push the wheel mechanism so as to cause a rotation of the rotatable block.  
     
     
       27. The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the at least one roll in the printing press comprises an anilox roll. 
     
     
       28. The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the step of fine-tuning the orientation of the printing press cylinder roll with respect to the at least one roll in the printing press comprises turning the threaded rod, and wherein the threaded rod is engaged with a movable plate of one of the adjustable arm assemblies. 
     
     
       29. The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising the step of: 
       limiting the speed by which the printing press cylinder roll is lowered.  
     
     
       30. The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the step of limiting the speed by which the printing press cylinder roll is lowered is performed by an air or hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
       31. The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the at least one roll in the printing press comprises an impression roll. 
     
     
       32. The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the at least one roll in the printing press further comprises an anilox roll. 
     
     
       33. The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the step of actuating a plate roll capturing knob assembly to lock the printing press cylinder roll with respect to the adjustment arm assemblies comprises: 
       turning a capture knob on the right adjustable arm assembly to force a plunger into the right end of the printing press cylinder roll; and  
       forcing a left end of the printing press cylinder roll to engage a catch formed in the left adjustable arm assembly.  
     
     
       34. The method according to  claim 26 , wherein before the steps of positioning the right end of a printing press cylinder roll in the right adjustment arm assembly and positioning the left end of the printing press cylinder roll in the left adjustment arm assembly, the method further comprises the step of: 
       raising automatically the right and left adjustment arm assemblies to a cylinder roll loading position.  
     
     
       35. The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the step of automatically raising the right and left adjustment arm assemblies comprises: 
       actuating the left and right adjustable arm assemblies simultaneously.  
     
     
       36. The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising: 
       replacing the printing press cylinder roll with a second printing press cylinder roll.  
     
     
       37. The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the step of replacing the printing press cylinder roll is automated. 
     
     
       38. The method according to  claim 36 , further comprising the step of: 
       adjusting the second printing press cylinder roll with respect to the at least one roll in the printing press.  
     
     
       39. The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the step of replacing the printing press cylinder roll is automated. 
     
     
       40. The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising the step of: 
       establishing automatically a predetermined clearance between the printing press cylinder roll and the at least one roll of the printing press.  
     
     
       41. The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the step of establishing automatically a predetermined clearance between the printing press cylinder roll and the at least one roll of the printing press comprises the steps of: 
       engaging the disengagement mechanism to lock the right and left adjustment arm assemblies in the loaded position; and  
       activating an adjustment arm raising mechanism to push the right and left adjustment arms assemblies towards the insertion position to attain the predetermined clearance.  
     
     
       42. The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the predetermined clearance is between about 0.00001″ and about 0.01″.